Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-05-10
PARIS. MAINE, TUESDAY. MAY 10, 1887.

tiaenced impaired.
The suiiors went together 10 Nezinsks
for her decision. and were received IN
the most gracious manner possible. By
no look, act or word. did she indicate
which vas the favored one. The old
chief himself could no, have managed
more di.erre,ly. Addressing them 'h'
said:
Waving Plume. you are already the
chief Of your tribe. your po"er In the
chase and in battle have early raised you
TO commanding place among all the
Tribe. around u.. and your fame has eoae
ou, TO the East. the West, the North and
the South
And you. flse,foO,. who can oa''run
the .~ifie., animal Of the forest. ATE
among the fr,i Of your tribe. your fame
too h.. .presd far and wids-,o the ri..
Jog ard setting san. A great faiure u
open TO YOU .nd to Waving Plume. J am
unworthy Of either. bu, since you have
.oush, me. you mus, decide for your-
.sl,e. by running a race and crossing the
n,,r he ~ho shall arrive on the oppo'
.'e bank Ns given poin, first. will !
many
10 thi. proposition they joyfally a..
.en,,d. for !, expressed no preference
and left her free TO be gained by him
.ho should deserve her by winning.
They h.d long been wishing ih., come.
! thing nigh, happen whereby !, would be
/ ds,crmin,d ~hieh ". the mishiier OF
the ,~o
Preparation. ~ere quickly made Tor
the race. Back from the bank OF the
ri,sr fora oon.idsr.ble distance. ~s q
cleared space. The chief himself looked
AFTER the pr,liminsrie.. and all vefe AZ.
ran s~l IN the f.ire., manner. Several
tru,ty Indian. were stationed 81 the
,,.r,ing point. and At different places
along the route. 10 see that the race ~a'
fairly run. but the greater part OF the
tribe va. on the opposite bank OF the
river, where sl.o va, the chief. and Ne.
sin,ka. dressed in her gsys., attire.
The signal Coz ,,.f,ing vas given by
the waving Of al evergreen bush. and
the competitors .ho, away iossrd the
ri,sr With the s~ii,ns" OF a deer.
Fleeifoo, took the lesi al the start. and
k,p, /, Coz about t~o thirds OF the die.
,shoe. when striking hi. FOO, as.in', an
Obstruction. he f,ll he.dlons TO the earth.
Before he could rice Waving Plume had
passed him.
Great ~. NeEin.ks. CONSERVATION
~h-n sAe .,s FLsfoo, fall. Her pref.
ernee had been for him all the time.
and .he hadn', Contemplated any other
rt.al, than hi. easily ~inhins the race.
A. be started of In the lead. her eye.
.hone ~iih unusual bfilli.ney. and for
s,,iins herself In her enthusiasm. she
el.ppsd her hani. with delight. The
father stool by. a. immossble a. the tall
pine tree which grew within few feet OF
the river. bank near by
Restrain your enthusiasm, my dAugh.
ter. IL doe.n', become yoi on this oeei-
,ion.' he quietly said.
An old Indian Who had often held her
on hi. knee in childhood, and ~ho loved
her =. hi. Own daughter. ". moved by
compassion =, her distress. and While all
~ere iniehi upon watching the race. he
unob.er,sily slipped aside aud pushed =
tree which had been broush, down by
the stream aud lodged sgains, the bank.
on, into the euuen, Of the river. aud then
quickly took bis place sgsin smons the
spectators.
Flee,fOo, rose With some dih;uly. aud
being considerably injured. Was disposed
20 give up the chase. Ba, sseins Nsrin-
ska on the other side, be Eel, that be
could no, thu. give her uP. and unmind'
ful Of the pain that tortured him. he
started tosard the river sg,in With all
hi. might. Waving Plume hsd .lsekened
his speed. feeling certain OF an easy vic.
tory, bu, hearing flee,foo, coming up
~i,h him. he pa, on = grea, burst OF
speed. which left him 10 the rear again.
Reaching the river. he plunged 10 aud
.~am about half way across. when be
found the tree directly in hi. way. lie
had calculated on II. passing him
before he reached IL. bu, !, lodged on .
.ho.l place. which he had no, observed.
aud be turned down the stream 20 avoid
IL, IL being . shorter distance. The cur
rent however swep, !, of. and !, VAS IN
motion sg.ia before he bad made miny
stroke. TO execute this movement.
Hearing the splash Of fIee,foo'. who
had reached the river bank and leapsd a'
f.r out into the river as he could. and
no, knowing exactly ~ha, Was be, ic
do. he diysd to ge, under the branches
and come ou, on the other side Of the
tree. Thi, Vas accomplished ~i,h some
difficulty. and when be rose TO the eur
face. he was several rods out OF hi, course.
but he vigorously struck Oh, for the shore.
They were nov moving on opposite sides
Of a triangle, The distance for each to
swim being about the same. flee'foot
injury did no, greatly sfrc, his move
men,s in The w.,sr-ihe comps,itot. be-
ing more evenly matched in ,hi. element,
| Waving Plume had the greater disad'an'
t.gs Of swimming disgonslly against the
current, while the other. having turned
up stream to avoid the distraction. found
that |, Was aiding him at the same time
th., |, was impeding the progress OF ws''
ing Plume.
Plee,foo, reached the shore first. and
| Nsrin.ka rushed forward. aud extending
her hard. helped him up the bank.
A great shou, rose from the assembled
Indians. as this &C, expressed her d'ei''
ion, with regard TO the winner OF The
rae. and her future husband.
Waving Plume. feeling that 1t WAS III.
oct Of the Gra, spih, which bad caused
Flee,fOo, to win. was apparently satisfied
at the result OF the race.
The marriage Was celebrated With grea
pomp. and after . short tary G hel
f.,her's wis~sm. N,rinsks bads hiu
adieu. and With her husband vent to liv'
among his people.
II was melancholy parting for th'
father, though be deemed II unworthy o
hi, position 10 show any signs OF emotion